Teens discuss abortion issues

Feb. 14, 2009

Written by

Raven J. Railey

Special to The Courier-Journal

FAST FACTS

 Less than a week into office, President Barack Obama reversed an executive order banning funding to international groups that offer abortions or referrals. Called the "global gag rule," it has been reinstated and reversed since President Ronald Reagan first signed it in 1984.

 Between 1992 and 2000 — the most recent data available — the pregnancy rate among girls 15-19 dropped 23 percent in both Kentucky and Indiana. In 2000, Kentucky's teen pregnancy rate was 76 per 1,000. That year, Indiana's was 73 per 1,000.

(Source: The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2004.)

 "Over 50 percent of unintended pregnancies occur to women who are using contraceptives during the month they become pregnant. But because the risk of unintended pregnancy in the absence of contraception is so great, 47 percent of unintended pregnancies occur to the very small percentage (7 percent) of women who are at risk but who are not using a contraceptive at all."

(Source: Kentucky Teen Pregnancy Coalition)

The Freedom of Choice Act

The Freedom of Choice ActIntroduced in 2007, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) declares a woman's "fundamental right to choose to bear a child." It would prohibit restrictions on a woman's ability to abort before fetal viability or after fetal viability if the woman's life or health is threatened.

It leaves determination of viability — the point at which a fetus can survive separate from its mother — to the woman's medical doctor.

Opponents worry that it could force religious institutions to perform abortions. Advocates say it would help ensure women's equal place in society.

More

ADVERTISEMENT

After eight years of anti-abortion policies in the White House, pro-choice advocates have been celebrating the new presidency of Barack Obama.

Those opposed to abortion, on the other hand, are concerned that a Democratic Congress could pass the Freedom of Choice Act. Obama, who co-sponsored the 2007 Senate version of the bill, has vowed he would sign it into law if it reaches him.

If it became law, it could override state parental notification requirements and waiting periods, such as the ones in effect in Kentucky and Indiana. It would repeal the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, passed in 2003, which prohibits a particular procedure usually used between 18 and 26 weeks of pregnancy.

Members of The Courier-Journal's High School Round Table met recently to discuss abortion and teen pregnancy.

This year's panelists were selected from among 210 applicants.

Here are excerpts from their discussion:

Railey: What do you think about the shift in policy with new leadership in the White House?

Dave Ariel-Joel, 17, senior at Ballard High School: Whether you agree or not with abortion, when it concerns American legislation, I think that there is no choice but to legalize abortion.

Policy shouldn't be influenced by religion.

Tisis Spalding, 17, junior at Bardstown High School: Once you start messing with women's rights, then that starts the question about how free America really is.

I believe that if somebody is not capable of taking care of a child or if a person is not able to continue a pregnancy because of their health, that they should be able to have an abortion.

Rachel Eldridge, 16, sophomore at New Albany High School: I don't think abortion is so much of a religious issue. It's just basic rights.

You say that it's giving women freedom, but at the same time it's taking a freedom away from the baby. Shouldn't everyone have the right to live?

Victoria Wilson, 17, senior at Rock Creek Christian Academy in Sellersburg, Ind.: If a mother's not capable of bringing it up — if they don't want to — there are other options like adoption. There are people who want a child that can't have one.

(Page 2 of 4)

Angela Rojas, 17, senior at Manual High School: I am as pro-choice as you get.

Some good things can come out of it — stem cell research is one.

Some people can't afford to have a child. If they choose to have that child, they are more than likely going to end up on welfare. The child is not going to have the proper life that it deserves.

That one abortion will not prevent a couple from adopting a child. There are so many children out there that need to be adopted.

Abortion needs to be legal and safe. Back in the '50s and '60s when abortion was illegal, you had so many people going to underground clinics and going to people who weren't really doctors.

Brooke Glidewell, 16, junior at Christian Academy of Louisville: Our government and our country were founded on religious principles. The Bible clearly states, "Thou shall not kill."

That is what an abortion is: killing a baby. I believe that wholeheartedly.

But then there are certain circumstances: If she is raped, I think that should be her decision. That's just something that girl would have to take up with herself and do what she felt God was leading her to do.

In my opinion, our country needs to move back to more of a religious view than what Obama is bringing in.

Dave: There is some protection to the right to life in the governmental framework, but there is no right to life in the Constitution. We have things such as execution.

Ash Lacy, 19, senior at Danville High School: I am pro-choice, but I support adoption.

Lauren Bradley, 16, junior at Assumption High School: Going to a Catholic school, we are taught that abortion is wrong.

I think women should have the right to do what they feel is best for their baby and not be judged for it.

Rachel: I am 100 percent pro-life.

These women that have had abortions, they will have — it's called post-abortion syndrome and it's related to a post-traumatic stress. They are going through a depression because of it.

Abortions are not safe. Some things can go wrong.

(Page 3 of 4)

It's degrading to women.

Kamahl Hess Jr., 14, freshman at Central High School: I prefer to stay neutral. Yes, abortion is bad, and yes, it can be good.

For women and young girls, they have a choice to either become a parent at a young age or to live their life and wait. ...

They might not always be mature enough to do what they have to do. They think it's just a game.

Even if your parents are helping, you are still on your own. Their parents might not always be there to help them when they are down and out.

Brooke: I am mostly pro-life.

If the mother's life is in danger, I think an abortion should be an option. The mother still has her rights and the baby's not born yet.

Rachel: I was kind of on the fence about should it be allowed in cases of rape or incest, or the life of the mother or if the child had deformities. But last year, I did some more research.

I don't want to seem like I am just saying, "Oh just deal with it, have the baby." Because obviously, it's a really hard time and I have never gone through that.

But I can't really see that we should let it be OK to abort your child. That's just making a second victim.